Lewis spars with Perdue on transportation inaction … and Lewis wins

Andrew Aydin — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:09:13 -0500

by Thomas Wheatley

'Let me refresh your memory, Gov. Perdue ...'

Jim Galloway brings to our attention a transportation-related tussle between Gov. Sonny Perdue and Congressman John Lewis over Georgia's missed high-speed rail funding opportunity.

Lewis told WSB-TV that the measly $750,000 Georgia received could be attributed to the state's leadership. Perdue, responding through a spokesman, said he found it funny that the congressman was pointing fingers about federal funding when the Democrats currently control the White House and Congress. High-speed choo choos intrigue the governor, Perdue's spokesman said, but Georgia just doesn't have enough cash to meet its transportation wants - or needs, for that matter.

The congressman didn't like that one bit - and delivered a stinging rebuke.

Demand up, supplies down at food banks, Congress hears

Andrew Aydin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:34:02 -0500

By Bob Keefe

WASHINGTON -- With the number of Americans who say they don't get enough to eat reaching new highs, the nation's food banks are facing unprecedented demand and short supplies, charity groups told Congress on Thursday.

In Atlanta, food donations to charities from manufacturers and retailers are down more than 35 percent, John Stephenson, executive director of the philanthropic group J. Bulow Campbell Foundation, told a U.S. House panel.

Marker to note role of slaves in building Capitol

Andrew Aydin — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:28:21 -0400

They worked 12-hour days, six days a week on the construction

WASHINGTON - The House on Tuesday acknowledged the use of African-American slaves in the construction of the U.S. Capitol, ordering officials to place a marker inside the new Capitol Visitor Center using some of the original stone quarried by those slaves for the historic building.

John Lewis arrested at Darfur protest

Andrew Aydin — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:30:10 -0400

U.S. Rep. John Lewis of Atlanta and four other members of Congress were arrested for civil disobedience on Monday as part of a protest against the humanitarian policies of the government of Darfur in Africa.

Lewis and the others were arrested after crossing a police line and refusing to leave the area in front of the Sudanese Embassy in Washington during the well-organized event that was as much publicity stunt as protest. The Democrat was released a few hours after his arrest after paying a $100 fine.